Electric light



(No Model.)

- E. WESTON.

ELEGTRIGLIGHT.

N0. 271,172.. Patented Jan inf . tion of the proper are.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ELECTRIC LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,172, dated January 23, 1883, .Application filed November lil, 1880. (Xo model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, EDWARD WESTON, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Lamps, of which the following is a specitication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of electric lamps known as arc77 lamps-a lamp in which the light is produced bythe voltaic arc formed between two separated carbon points-and it has reference to the means for feeding and regulating the position ofthe carbons. It is essential in a lamp of this kind to make provision not only for the feeding of one carbon toward the other at a rate proportionate to its consumption, but also for moving or adjusting them to and from one another, so as to maintain their points at the proper distance for 'the production of a steady light of maximum intensity. As a means of accomplishing this object I combine with the carbon electrodes or the holders three electro-magnetstwo in the main or are circuit and one in a shunt or derived circuit aboutthe lam p which act both to control the feed and to regulate the separation of the said carbons. With one ofthe carbon holders or carriers I combine one of themain-circuit magnets and the shuntmagnet, by whose differential action-caused by the relativeincrements and decrements of current passing` through them, respectivelytheholder is lockedin position or released and permitted to feed toward the other, as occasion requires. With the other holder l combine the other main-circuit magnet, which, by its varying attractive force, due to variations in the current, acts to draw this holder away from or to permit it to move toward the other carbon, so as to maintain the carbons always at the distance apart requisite for the produc- The shunt-magnet above referred to acts to release the carbonholder, so as to permit its feed movement, and the main magnet used in combination therewith acts to lock the holder against movement, the nature of the devices for accomplishing this, other than the magnets described, being immaterial in many respects to the lscope of my present invention and capable of extensive variations. It is in the combination of the two electro-magnets included in the main circuit and the electro-magnet located in a shunt or derived circuit in conjunction w-ith the electrodes of the lamp, for the purpose ot' forming and regulating the arc, that my present 'invention mainly is comprised.

The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect will be readily understood hy reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan or top view, and Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken through the line XX in Fig. l.

Similar letters ot' reference designate corresponding parts in both fgQes.

A A designate the lower-carbon holder, and B B the upper-carbon holder. They consist of V-shaped metallic plates A B -and levers A B', having V-shaped ends, which are capable ot' being caused to act in conjunction with the said plates to grip and hold thecarbons,screws a b being respectively combined with said levers, whereby to adjust them. The lower-carbon holder A A is affixed to and carried by a metallic rod, C, which is susceptible of a short movement upward and downward. This rod C is tit-ted in a tube or shell, C', ofa diamagnetic material-such, for instance, as brassprovided with tlanges c near the top and bottom, and constituting a -spool for a helix. Coarse insulated wire C2 is wound around this shell or` spool between the iianges, and constitutes a helix.

C3 is a shell, preferably also of diamagnetic material, arranged outside the shell C', and its flange c concentrically therewith. These shells C and O3 are supported by a base-piece, c, preferably of diamagnetic material, the

shell C resting-on this base-piece, and the shell C3 beingscrewed into said base-piece. This base-piece cis supported by a yoke or crossbar, (Y, and it is so connected with the basepiece that it may be adjusted laterally to provide for shifting the lower carbon into line with the upper carbon. rlhe base-piece is secured to an annular plate, C, provided externally at the top and bottom with iia-nges, which embrace between them an annular portion ofthe yoke or cross-bar U5, sufficient space being afforded between the interior of' the latter and the exterior of the body oi the annular plate U6 to admit of the lateral adjustment ot' the said plate in order to shift the lower carbon into line with the upper. The lower iiange of this annular plate is made detachable to provide t'or placing the plate in its proper position. Screws e serve to clamp the annular plate in position when adjusted. The base-piece c is insulated, by a plate of hard rubber or other suitable insulating materiahfrom the annular plate Q6, and also from the screws d, whereby it is securedl to the said plate. The yoke or cross-bar C5 is supported by two metal rods, U8, which are connected at the top by another yoke or cross-bar, C9. At the top of the rodsl (l are binding-screws 0.10, whereby circuitwires, through which electricity is conveyed to the'electric lamp, are connected.

At the top of the shells C' G3 is secured a cap-piece, G13, preferably ot' metal, having fitted to it a ring, C14, constituting an upturned rim. Aiiixed to the rod C is a bonnet, G18, which overlaps the ring C and protects it, the cap C13, and the portion ot' the rod U immediately below it from dirt and other deleterious matter. Screwsf pass through slots g in this bonnet, and enter the ring C, and said screws form stops, whereby the movement ofthe rod upward and downward is limited.

The rod C constitutes also a movable core for the helix C2, but does not extend nearly as low as the lower end ofthe helix. Below it is a spring, C15, which impinges against its lower end, and rests on a bearing-plate, C1, 'arranged within the shell C', and supported by a screw, C", which screws through the base-piece G". By adjusting this screw C17 the tension ofthe spring may be varied, so as to have greater or less -force for inipelling the rod C upward. When the helix is in circuit it draws the rod or movable core C downward, and when no electricity is passing through the helix the spring Q1? impels the rod or movable core G upward. The distance which the rod or movable eore C is designed to be moved downward is only enough to et'tect the separation of the carbons suiciently for the voltaic arc.

V designates a globe-holder mounted on the shell C3, and provided with a screw or screws, V', for retaining` a globe in place. It is secured in place adjustably by a screw, V2, and clamping-piece V3, bearing on the shell C3.

'The upper-carbon holder B B' is supported by a metallic rod, D, passing upward through the yoke or cross-bar C, and provided with a toothed rack, D', extending lengthwise of it and engaging with a pinion, E. The pinion E forms part of a train ot wheel-work or gearwheels, which have combined with them a ro tary fan, E', in such manner that said fan will rotate very much faster than said pinion. The red descends by its own weight and that of its appurtenances, and the train of wheels and the fan constitute a means i'orcontrolling the descent of said rod, rendering it uniform and slow in its movement.

Preferably the shaft which carries the pinion E is connected to the wheel, whereby said shaft is engaged with the remainder ot' the train ot' wheel-work by pawls lt and a ratchetwheel, S, so that the rod D maybe moved upward without operating' the train of wheelwork.

F designates a spool of diamagnetic material, mounted on a frame, F', erected on a circular central portion ot' the yoke or cross-bar G9; and F2 designates wire wound around the same and constituting a helix. This wire F2 is somewhat finer and ot' a slightly-higher electric resistance than the wire of the helix C2. The wire Fs extends from the right-hand binding-screw, Cl", to the helix F2, and thence returns to the right-hand rod, Gg. This bindingscrew is insulated from the said rod by a gasket, F4, ot' hard rubber or other suitable insulating material, so that the electric current cannot pass from the said rod to the bindingpost until after it has passed through the helix F2. The helix F2 is in the main circuit ofthe electric lamp.

F5 is a movable core for the helix F2, tting loosely within the spool F.

G designates a spool ot'diamagnetic material, mounted on the yoke or cross-bar C9, wound with wire constituting a helix, G'. The wire o't' this helix is finer, and therefore ot' a biglier electric resistance, than the wire ofthe helix F2. Wires G2 connect the wire of the helix G to the binding-screws U10, forming a shunt or derived circuit otl high electric resistance.

G3 is a movable core for the helix G', fitting loosely in the spool G. The movable core F5ot" the helix F2 and the movable core G3 ot' the helix G' are connected by a rod, Il, so that they will move in unison. This rod is furnished with an adjustable collar, H', which, by alink, l, is connected to one end of a lever, J, pivoted to the frame-work of the tra-in of wheel4 work bet'ore described, and provided at the other end with a catch, J', which, by engaging with one ot' a series of arms, K, extending from the shaft of the fan E', serves to lock the fan and train of wheel-work and hold them stationary. When the force of the helices F2 and G' is such that their movable cores are caused to move downward, thc catch J' releases the arm K, with which it was engaged, and allows the rod D and the upper carbon to descend with a slow uniform motion, under control of the fan E' and train of wheel-work. NVhen the force ot' these helices is, however, such as to cause their movable cores to move upward, the catch J', by the consequent movement of the lever J, is made to engage with one ot' the arms K and lock the fan and train of wheel-work, thereby retaining the upper carbon in position.

L designa-tes a spring connected to the core F5 ot' the helix F2 and to one end ot' a lever, M, which is fulcrumed at the other end to a stand on the frame F', and capable of adjustment to vary the tension of the spring by means of a screw, M'. n the present example ot' my in- .vention the purpose or" this spring and its IOO IIO

n 1,172 y e means of adjustment is to enable me to compensate for any variance from the proper electro-motive force of the two helices FZ G.

To prevent the too sudden movement of the movable cores F5 G3 of the helices F2 G', I preferably' combine with them a dash-pot, N, which may, as shown, be arranged below and connected with the movable core G3..

O designates a shell, which may be made of sheet metal, inclosing the mechanism of the lamp above the yoke or crossbar G3.

P designates a cap-piece, which lnay be of metal, fitted to the top of the shell O, and retained in place by a screw, h, passing through it and entering a pillar extending from the frame F.

Surmounting the cap-piece l) is a shell, Q, inclosing the upper portion of the rod D.

The direction oi' the current in this lamp and its effect upon the various parts will be understood from the following: The current is caused to enter at the left-hand binding-post, C1, attached to the left-hand supporting-bar, U3. This latter is insulated from the cross-bar C5 by a gasket of insulating material, so that the current passes from the binding post through the upper portion of the lamp-frame to the upper carbon; thence to the lower carbon and the shell of the helix G3, through the said helix C3, wire C to the cross-bar G5, and then up the right-hand side of the frame. By wire F3 it is then carried to and through the coils of helix F2 and back to the insulated binding-post C10. rlhe shunt or derived cir cuit is taken o" at the left-hand binding-post, carried by an insulated wire to and through the lower or high-resistance helix and over to bindingpost G10. Then the electric current is conducted through the lamp the helix F2 causes the movable cores F5 and G3 to move upward, thereby causing the catch J to lock the fan vE' and the train of wheel-work andretain the upper carbon in position. At the same time the helix O2 draws down the rod C,

so as to cause the lowercarbon to separate from the upper sufficiently to produce the voltaic arc. When the resistance in the main circuit increases by reason of the burning away of the carbons, the spring C15 gradually raises the lower carbon until more current begins to pass 5o through the wire G2 and helix G and less through the helix F3, wherepon the movable cores F5 and G3 are caused to move downward, release the catch J from the fan E', and allow the upper carbon to descend. Vhen the resistance in the main circuit is in this manner reduced again suiciently, the movable cores F5 and G3 are caused to move upward and effect the locking ot' the fan E and retain the upper carbon in position. Thus the proper re- 6o two electro-magnets in the main or lamp cir- 7o cuit and an electro-magnet in a shunt-circuit, in conjunction with the electrodes of thelamp, for the purpose of forming and regulating the arc, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, with the lower-carbon 75 holder and the regulating-magnet for same located in the main circuit, of the upper-carbon holder, means for locking the same against moven1ent,anelectro-magnetlocatedinashuntcircuit acting to release said carbon-holder, 8o

and an electro-magnet located in the main eircuit acting 1n opposition to the shunt-magnet, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. EDWARD WESTON. Witnesses T. J. KEANE, FREDK. H AYNEs.

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